Giffords Circus - the backdrop of Frost French's last show and inspiration for John Galliano designs - is a fairytale recreation of a Thirties circus, complete with jugglers, strong men, aerialists and equestrian artists.

It is glamorous and mischievous, intimate and fun; it is a tale of prancing horses, dancing ladies, vaudeville and music hall and from the moment it launched at the Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival in May 2000 Giffords Circus has electrified audiences in the villages and towns of England's south west. Nell Gifford, circus director and impresario and her husband, Toti, had a unique vision: they wanted to create a touring, nomadic life alive with ideas and art, and live it.

Every last detail from the beautiful old touring wagons and the circus restaurant speckled with fairy lights, down to the stunning lion head costumes, circus dog and dancers jiving to a jazzed up version of My Darling Clementine, has the Giffords Circus stamp.

They return for the 2004 season with a show created around "The Dream of the Pearl" - something mysterious and of the night.

Old favourites - the prancing horses, the dazzling tight rope walker, the aerial chanteuse and the Russian strongman - will return but no season is ever like the last.

Nell will be pearly queen on her new spotted Polish Horse, named Havana; the show girls become divas of the dance hall; a new clown, Tweedy, will revive the forgotten art of eccentric dance; there is an 18th century romantic frog; Miriam, the diminutive Dutch horse trainer and partner will be performing an ancient form of Spanish riding; and Romanian couple, Evelyn and Cristian Marinof, will be appearing for the first time with their award-winning spring board routine.

Giffords Circus is a return to childhood innocence, a genuinely family affair, hugely popular with everyone who sees it and championed by the critics - roll up, roll up everybody, the circus is coming to town!

Back by very popular demand…

'Giffords Sauce' Restaurant

In May 2002 Giffords Circus launched the uniquely ambitious project of a travelling restaurant. After the evening show, supper is served under fairy-lit white awnings and around long hardwood tables piled with Giffords' custom-made starry Bridgewater crockery. The public were invited to eat alongside the circus's trapeze artistes, jugglers and slack-rope walkers.

The Giffords circus café wagon will be on tour again in 2004. Like the circus itself, the food is colourful, eclectic and traditionally inspired - monkfish with bacon and plum compote, pasta with beetroot, feta and mint, pork chops in cider and cream - and they will be serving up fresh local and seasonal food to artistes and public wherever they go.

'And what food! The kitchen is tiny…yet they source the freshest produce available'
- Observer Food Monthly

'If your expectation of circus nosh is a warm hot dog swimming in greasy onions, you're simply not running in the right rings, my dear. Located under open canopies and around long hardwood tables piled with Giffords custom-made starry Bridgewater crockery, you are in for a veritable feast'
- Elle Food

Giffords Circus Education

Working with young people from the South West, Giffords circus will once more be running an education placement scheme. It involves young people coming on tour with the show and experiencing the life of a touring circus. They receive coaching, direction and work experience and have the opportunity to perform their work in front of a Giffords Circus audience.

A selection of stunning photos taken by James Waddell & Michael Seddon are available. For further information please contact either Nell Gifford or Katy Kelly on 01451 820 378 or email nell@giffordscircus.com Confirmation from either James or Michael must be given before any photography is used.

'I joined the circus for its promise of adventure. I stayed with it because I want to prosper in an industry that is changing, growing and alive with ideas and art'
- Nell Gifford

'Charming, emotional, and an absolutely essential British summer experience'
- Elle

'Nell Gifford…stands out as an exotic creature in a world of exotic creatures'
- The Times